Christian  Living  in  Terms 
of  Service 

Eliza  Rhees  Butler 


Christian  Living  in  Terms 
of  Service 

For  the  Social  Service  Committee 
Eliza  Rhees  Butler 

Student  Secretary  of  the  National  Board 


National  Board 

of  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations 

600  Lexington  Avenue,  New  York  City 

1916 


Note:  This  leaflet  is  prepared  for  the  Social  Service 

Committee,  and  as  such  should  also  be  read  in  connection 
with  the  leaflet,  “The  Bible  Study  Committee  and  the  Volun¬ 
tary  Study  Plan.” 


Christian  Living  in  Terms  of  Service 


Eliza  Rhees  Butler 


The  Naturalness  of  a  Desire  for  Service 

From  the  time  when  all  of  us  first  exclaimed,  “Please, 
mother,  let  me  help,”  there  has  been  in  the  hearts  of  each  of 
us  some  knowledge  of  the  joy  of  working  together  with  those 
we  love,  for  a  common  aim.  This  comes  to  us  first  by  belong¬ 
ing  to  our  family  circle,  then  the  horizon  broadens,  and  in 
turn  our  school,  our  club,  our  church,  our  city  demands  our 
allegiance  and  our  time.  This  call  to  a  common  loyalty  ap¬ 
peals  to  every  girl,  and  as  she  enters  into  college  life  she 
finds  it  to  be  the  basis  of  the  so  called  “college  spirit.”  Later 
this  same  spirit  expresses  itself  not  only  in  her  family  life, 
but  it  also  stirs  her  to  support  the  organized  efforts  of  her 
community  for  human  betterment.  Thus  each  one  of  us  may 
grow  naturally  into  living  in  conscious  recognition  of  our 
larger  group  relationships. 

The  Difference  Between  Activity  and  Power 

Is  there  a  difference  between  these  two  kinds  of  energy? 
How  shall  we  determine  it?  Can  we  see  it  in  ourselves  or 
only  in  some  of  our  friends? 

The  simple  friendliness  and  trustfulness  of  our  childhood 
days  does  not  persist  uninterruptedly  as  we  grow  up,  save 
in  a  few  chosen  spirits.  Most  of  us  pass  through  a  crude 
self-consciousness  when  our  own  selves  loom  large  and  we 
come  to  a  realization  of  our  own  importance.  This  is  nat- 

3 


ural:  no  one  of  us  can  ever  amount  to  anything  ruggedly 
worthy  unless  we  honestly  face  ourselves.  But  we  must  face 
our  full  responsibility:  our  relationship  to  ourselves,  to  our 
God  and  to  our  fellow  beings.  These  three,  however,  must  be 
carefully  balanced.  Over  emphasis  on  any  one  side  may  pro¬ 
duce  great  activity,  in  one  direction  or  another,  but  will  pre¬ 
vent  the  development  of  a  well  rounded,  joyous  and  powerful 
life.  It  takes  conscious,  honest  and  repeated  effort  to  gain  a 
balanced  character.  How  we  all  covet  the  healthy,  hearty 
and  helpful  spirit  some  girls  have !  And  yet  at  what  various 
tangents  some  students  fly  off!  We  see  them  scattering  their 
energies  in  every  direction — much  “activity,”  but  little  ac¬ 
complishment. 

Who  are  those  girls  who  truly  live  with  power?  Often  we 
see  a  girl  who  simply  cares  for  self-development,  attractive, 
careless  and  often  care-free,  seeking  pleasures  which  vanish 
as  she  clutches  them!  She  excuses  herself  on  the  plea  of 
“artistic  temperament” — too  often  a  cloak  for  selfishness. 
Others  are  delving  into  the  secrets  of  all  the  universe  simply 
to  serve  intellectual  ends, — a  cold  and  often  lonely  way  to 
travel,  caring  little  for  God  or  man.  “I  must  live  my  own 
life,”  such  a  one  is  likely  to  explain.  “You  are  not  responsi¬ 
ble  for  me,  why  interfere?  And  why  should  I  care  about 
others?  They  are  nothing  to  me.”  Even  individual  satis¬ 
faction  is  not  gained  by  this  sort  of  isolated  and  abnormal 
life. 

When  a  girl  honestly  faces  her  life  in  the  light  of  God’s 
overwhelming  love  for  her,  her  deepest  desire  must  inevitably 
be  that  she  shall  be  in  right  relationship  to  Him.  Quite 
naturally  little  deeds  of  thoughtfulness  begin  to  enter  into 
her  life,  and  a  new  power  is  recognized.  Some  way  better 
than  words  must  be  found  to  express  the  new  joy;  and  the 
radiant  girl  instinctively  puts  her  energy  into  doing  things 
for  other  people.  This  is  the  spirit  of  true  service,  but  it 
does  not  always  follow  that  this  is  social  service,  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  it  is  generally  called  such.  Far  too  often  this 

4 


kind  of  service  becomes  only  another  means  of  self-expres¬ 
sion.  Most  girls  feel  happier  for  having  done  these  kind¬ 
nesses.  They  see  a  need,  and  spring  to  answer  it.  This  is 
the  beginning,  but  not  the  end,  of  service  in  its  biggest  sense. 
Such  efforts,  alone,  are  generally  strongly  personal,  and  un¬ 
certain  in  results;  and  we  have  to  admit  that  much  ill-timed 
philanthropy  is  based  on  similar  motives. 

One  day  a  most  winning  and  beautifully  gowned  young 
person  was  overheard  to  say,  “Yes  indeed,  I  am  not  just  a 
butterfly,  I  mean  to  make  my  life  as  useful  as  possible.  I  go 
slumming  every  Thursday  morning.”  No  wonder  the  only 
reply  which  escaped  the  lips  of  her  kindly  but  older  adviser 
was,  “But  my  dear,  as  long  as  that  word  is  in  your  vocab¬ 
ulary  I  am  quite  sure  you  can  be  doing  nobody  any  good.” 
When  a  girl  gains  her  first  realization  of  God’s  desire  for 
her  life,  she  must  at  the  same  time  be  given  a  knowledge  of 
the  Christian  social  gospel  and  her  relation  to  it.  Philan¬ 
thropy  of  the  heart  without  that  of  the  head,  aimed  at  the 
effect  rather  than  the  cause,  often  prevents  permanent  good 
being  accomplished  and  sometimes  even  blocks  far  reaching 
and  efficient  methods. 

Some  girls  limit  themselves  to  words  only  as  a  means  of 
expression  of  the  deepest  experiences  in  life,  especially  of 
their  relationship  to  God.  Here,  too,  is  a  danger.  How  often 
we  hear  such  girls  in  “testimony  meetings”!  They  are  ready 
and  anxious  to  serve  their  group,  but  what  effect  have  many 
such  meetings  upon  vigorous  girls?  Words — words — words, 
but  no  sense  of  reality;  activity,  not  power!  Not  that  tes¬ 
timony  has  no  service  value:  it  has  great  value  when  it  is 
daily  and  hourly  illustrated  through  the  life  of  the  individual. 
Life  must  reveal  what  the  words  express  if  they  are  to  arouse 
others  to  social  action.  We  all  admire  the  girl  who  can  find 
expression  in  both  words  and  deeds,  when  one  corresponds  to 
the  other.  Curiously  enough,  it  is  among  both  the  wordy  and 
big  hearted  types  of  girls  that  many  of  our  inactive  and  nega¬ 
tive  Christians  exist.  Sincere?  They  say  so,  and  often  many 

5 


of  the  above  mentioned  types  of  girls  do  live  simple  Christian 
lives  of  individual  righteousness;  but  their  efforts  are  not 
truly  thought  out,  the  Christian  plan  as  a  whole  has  not 
captured  their  minds,  and  therefore  their  action  is  ineffec¬ 
tive  and  powerless.  They  have  comparatively  little  influence, 
and  often  wonder  why  they  are  not  invited  to  serve  on  really 
important  committees  or  to  lead  in  enterprises  that  require 
social  thought  and  action. 

Again  there  are  some  natures  in  which  the  relationship  to 
fellow  beings  becomes  the  dominant  one.  All  else  is  cast 
aside  by  such  people  as  non-essential  if  they  can  only  serve 
their  generation  in  a  large  way.  It  is  the  “large  way”  which 
fires  their  imagination:  they  talk  it,  think  it,  strive  for  it 
unceasingly.  Sometimes  with  one  objective,  sometimes  with 
another,  and  too  often  in  their  own  strength  alone,  they  start 
forth  with  the  latest  theories  and  scientific  information  to 
set  the  universe  in  order.  They  really  mean  to  love  their 
neighbors  as  themselves,  but  without  the  power  of  God’s  love 
in  their  hearts,  great  activity  and  sometimes  confusion  may 
result,  but  little  real  accomplishment.  Conditions  may  be 
improved  but  no  power  to  live  under  them  has  been  trans¬ 
mitted.  “It  is  what  we  do  that  counts,  no  matter  what  we  be¬ 
lieve;  everyone  has  a  right  to  his  own  ideas  upon  matters  of 
faith,”  they  say.  But  faith  cannot  be  omitted  in  normal  life. 
Social  service  cannot  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  faith.  Too 
often  in  claiming  to  make  religion  an  every-day  affair  it  be¬ 
comes  a  no-day  affair.  The  so-called  social  service  activities 
are  full  of  people  of  this  kind,  but  a  balanced  ideal  is  essential 
to  effective  service,  as  the  outstanding  social  workers  have 
come  to  realize. 

Thus  we  see  how  each  phase  of  life,  personal  responsibility, 
relationship  to  God,  relationship  to  fellowmen,  may  become 
one-sided.  Individual  righteousness  is  essential  to  the  de¬ 
velopment  of  a  Christian  social  order,  but  corporate  social 
righteousness  is  also  the  demand  of  the  present.  Christians 
may  have  failed  in  the  past,  but  not  Christianity.  True 

6 


Christianity  has  always  demanded  a  social  conscience  which 
shall  show  itself  in  service  for  the  common  good.  Neither 
social  service  nor  philanthropy  was  ever  meant  to  be  just 
“doing  something  for  somebody,”  but  doing  the  best  thing 
for  real  people  in  the  best  way,  whereby  many,  not  only  one, 
may  be  benefited. 

No  service  which  calls  itself  Christian  can  be  condescend¬ 
ing  or  impersonal,  nor  in  this  day  and  generation  is  there  any 
excuse  for  its  being  thoughtless  or  unscientific.  Aimless 
activity  must  be  controlled  and  converted  into  power,  indi¬ 
vidual  goodness  transmitted  and  transferred  in  social  right¬ 
eousness.  Are  we  prepared  honestly  to  meet  this  challenge? 

Promotion  of  Individual  Power 

It  is  only  by  keeping  in  touch  with  the  sources  of  Christian 
strength  that  one  may  become  qualified  for  the  highest  form 
of  service.  One’s  own  devotional  and  church  life  has  to  be 
translated  day  by  day  into  action.  “He  who  runs  may  read” 
the  difference  between  Christian  and  non-Christian  living. 
No  greater  service  can  be  rendered  than  the  hourly  demon¬ 
stration  of  Christian  standards  in  class-room,  on  the  athletic 
field,  in  the  social  gathering  among  our  friends  and  in  our 
family  life.  This  is  the  best  kind  of  preventive  work,  as  it 
controls  the  spiritual  environment. 

Time  should  be  taken  for  definite  study  of  the  Gospels  in 
search  of  Christ's  standard  of  social  action.  (See  the  Vol¬ 
untary  Study  text  for  the  first  semester  of  the  senior  year, 
Dr.  Rauschenbush’s  “The  Social  Principles  of  Jesus.”)  How 
compelling  the  parables  and  Christ’s  ministry  of  healing  be¬ 
come  when  read  from  a  social  rather  than  the  long  accus¬ 
tomed  individual  message !  Who  can  fail  to  see  that  every 
follower  of  Christ  must  live  in  daily  recognition  of  her  own 
responsibility  for  the  hungers,  poverty  and  oppression  of 
her  fellows!  A  truly  Christian  social  worker  is  therefore 
one  who  recognizes  her  personal  relationship  to  God,  accepts 

? 


Christ’s  standards  of  action,  follows  his  leadership  and  de¬ 
pends  upon  that  leadership  in  her  efforts  to  work  with  others 
for  the  incoming  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Furthermore,  in 
this  day  and  generation  the  promotion  of  a  Christian  social 
order  becomes  to  the  college  girl  a  vivid  objective.  She  seeks 
wheresoever  she  may  serve  best,  at  home  or  abroad.  Her  life 
must  ring  true,  her  methods  must  be  scientific  and  her  work 
intelligently  done.  Fortunately  this  splendid  and  almost  in¬ 
stinctive  desire  is  capturing  the  most  thoughtful  college  girls 
of  today  and  gives  great  promise  for  the  future. 

The  Social  Service  Committee 

In  student  Associations  the  character  and  amount  of  social 
work  to  be  undertaken  requires  a  Social  Service  Committee, 
every  member  of  which  has  a  Christian  comprehension  of 
service,  looking  upon  it  not  as  a  substitute  for  religion  but  as 
the  natural  expression  of  faith.  Its  members  should  be  ready 
to  read  the  daily  papers,  such  periodicals  as  the  Survey,  and 
to  study  the  social  movements  of  this  generation.  The  num¬ 
ber  of  members  will  depend  upon  the  size  of  the  college  and 
amount  of  service  to  be  rendered. 

Meetings  should  be  held  regularly  at  least  once  a  month  for 
an  hour.  Time  should  be  given  for  the  transaction  of  busi¬ 
ness,  study*  or  information,  and  plans  and  prayer.  When  a 
policy  and  the  resulting  program  have  been  determined  upon 
for  the  year,  cooperation  with  other  committees  will  be  found 
absolutely  necessary.  The  membership  committee  can  help 
to  provide  available  workers.  The  finance  committee  can  sug¬ 
gest  methods  of  raising  special  funds.  The  religious  meet¬ 
ings  committee  should  set  apart  for  the  Social  Service  Com¬ 
mittee  at  least  one  general  Association  meeting  a  year.  The 
Bible,  mission  study  and  Social  Service  chairmen  together, 

*  See  “The  Christian  Social  Order.”  A  suggested  outline  for  devotional 
reading.  10  cents. 


8 


forming  the  Voluntary  Study  Executive,  *  must  consult  and 
be  consulted  in  order  to  have  all  study  courses,  Bible,  mission 
and  social  study,  properly  adjusted.  The  Social  Service  Com¬ 
mittee  is  responsible  for  the  promotion  of  social  study  groups 
and  should  endeavor  to  correlate  this  work  with  any  curricu¬ 
lum  work  there  may  be  in  economics  and  sociology.  Certain¬ 
ly  if  Christian  service  is  the  natural  expression  of  Christian 
life,  the  Social  Service  Committee  has  a  large  responsibility, 
not  only  to  select  courses  of  study  and  able  speakers,  but  also 
to  find  suitable  ways  of  serving  and  means  of  relating  the 
Christian  Association  membership  to  intelligent  service. 

May  we  ask  ourselves  first  if  we  realize  to  the  full  how 
true  it  is  that  “they  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait.” 
How  many  girls  render  the  most  effective  Christian  social 
service  simply  by  living  up  to  high  standards  of  physical,  in¬ 
tellectual,  moral  and  social  as  well  as  spiritual  efficiency, 
and  help  to  permeate  the  entire  college  community  by  frankly 
banding  together  to  accomplish  such  aims?  This  has  been 
done,  and  can  be  done,  by  succeeding  college  generations  until 
it  becomes  a  tradition  that  “certain  things  simply  cannot 
happen  on  our  campus.”  This  means  an  active  group  con¬ 
sciousness,  which  can  be  promoted  by  every  member  of  the 
Association,  but  especially  by  the  members  of  the  Social 
Service  Committee. 

The  activities  of  the  Social  Service  Committee  group  them¬ 
selves  naturally  into  two  parts,  study  and  work.  The  follow¬ 
ing  groups  covering  activities  all  of  which  have  been  tried 
by  actual  Association  experience,  are  simply  suggestive  and 
will  be  found  helpful  to  clear  thinking  in  planning  for  serv¬ 
ice.  It  is  expected  that  any  sub-divisions  for  efficiency  which 
may  be  made,  will  so  fit  together  that  a  united  social  service 
program  will  be  clearly  understood  by  the  whole  Association 
membership. 

*  See  leaflet  “The  Bible  Study  Committee  and  the  Voluntary  Study 
Plan,”  listed  on  back  cover. 


9 


Sub-committee  on  Social  Study  and  North  American 

Problems* 

For  the  girls  who  cannot  plan  to  go  to  foreign  fields,  the 
call  of  their  own  country’s  needs  should  be  especially  appeal¬ 
ing.  Here  is  the  Association’s  opportunity  to  relate  every 
girl  to  an  active  Christian  life  and  to  stir  in  her  a  social  con¬ 
science.  The  entire  introductory  discussion  in  this  leaflet 
points  out  the  reasons  why  an  intelligent  work  must  be  done 
by  our  Associations.  Workers  are  needed  under  our  home 
mission  boards.  Local  churches  want  their  members  to  have 
an  intelligent  interest  in  community  problems,  whether  they 
be  in  city,  town  or  country.  Special  groups  of  women  and 
girls  in  this  country  need  the  sympathetic  understanding  of 
their  college  sisters  and  no  college  girl  should  consider  her 
education  complete  if  it  is  limited  to  a  knowledge  of  her  own 
group  alone.  Nothing  is  better  calculated  to  banish  narrow¬ 
ness  and  provincialism  than  the  plan  promoted  by  the  Vol¬ 
untary  Study  Executive  for  the  study  of  North  American 
problems. 

Some  members  of  the  Association  surely  can  afford  to  find 
time  for  definite  social  study.  These  study  groups  should  be 
encouraged  largely  for  juniors  and  seniors,  and  accurate  rec¬ 
ords  of  their  work  should  be  kept.  The  suggestions  contained 
in  the  Voluntary  Study  program  can  well  be  followed  and 
various  parallel  courses  on  country  life,  immigration,  indus¬ 
trial  conditions  and  home  missions  should  be  given  as  needed. 
Other  members  will  enjoy  discussion  groups,  especially  in 
those  colleges  where  strong  courses  are  being  given  in  home 
economics  and  sociology.  Too  much  scientific  knowledge  can¬ 
not  be  had  and  all  such  curriculum  work  should  be  regarded 
as  a  valuable  asset.  There  are  few  girls  who  have  both  the 
time  and  strength  to  do  much  off  campus  work,  but  during 
student  days  they  can,  through  study  classes  and  discussion 

*  To  understand  this  important  part  of  the  committee’s  work,  a  reading 
of  the  leaflet  “The  Bible  Study  Committee  and  the  Voluntary  Study 
Plan”  is  indispensable.  See  back  cover. 

10 


groups,  relate  sociological  theory  and  facts  so  effectively 
that  in  vacation  work  or  after  graduation  it  will  be  found 
that  much  valuable  preparation  has  been  made.  To  illus¬ 
trate,  it  means  much  to  be  prepared  and  commissioned  to  lead 
an  Eight  Week  Club,  *  to  have  an  intelligent  appreciation  of 
the  work  of  the  Consumers’  League,  or  of  The  Woman’s 
Trade  Union  League,  f 

Sub-Committee  on  Volunteer  Work 

Before  tempting  girls  to  active  service,  individual  schedules 
should  be  studied.  The  “point  system”  +  could  well  be  applied 
here,  and  only  those  girls  who  have  the  time  and  are  phys¬ 
ically  able  should  be  encouraged  to  do  any  off  campus  work. 
This  is  a  point  where  the  dean  of  women  or  principal  will 
appreciate  the  committee’s  cooperation. 

The  service  which  can  be  undertaken  may  easily  be  divided 
into  on  and  off  campus,  vacation  and  after  graduation  work. 
Make  a  careful  study  of  conditions  both  on  and  off  campus 
and  determine  the  needs  before  additional  sub-committees  are 
appointed.  When  such  committees  are  appointed,  responsi¬ 
bilities  should  be  clearly  outlined.  When  work  is  undertaken 
see  that  all  obligations  are  met.  There  should  be  no  differ¬ 
ence  between  volunteer  and  paid  service  in  this  regard. 
Every  volunteer  worker  must  keep  her  appointments  faith¬ 
fully,  promptly  and  efficiently.  Every  volunteer,  when  she 
accepts  a  specific  responsibility,  should  realize  that  it  is  to 
take  precedence  over  every  other  extra-curriculum  engage¬ 
ment  for  that  day  and  hour,  and  that  a  definite  report  is  ex¬ 
pected  from  her  for  the  records  of  the  committee. 

On  Campus  Work 

Every  Association  should  study  its  own  campus.  Some¬ 
thing  will  always  be  found  to  be  done,  either  among  the  stu- 

*  See  leaflet,  “How  to  Promote  Eight  Week  Clubs  in  Colleges,”  listed 
on  back  cover,  and  text,  “College  Women  and  Country  Leadership.” 

t  National  Consumers’  League,  289  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York  City; 
Woman’s  Trade  Union  League,  166  W.  Washington  Street,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

t  See  articles  in  The  Association  Monthly. 

11 


dents,  for  the  faculty,  or  among  those  upon  whose  services 
campus  life  is  dependent.  Test  all  activities  planned  as  to 
their  Christian  social  value.  Among  the  forms  of  service 
most  often  rendered  are: 

(a)  Student  Employment.  Helping  girls  to  help  them¬ 
selves.  (What  Christian  social  principle  is  recognized  in 
this  work?)  This  can  be  arranged  along  many  lines.  Fac¬ 
ulty  homes  gladly  welcome  help  in  all  the  household  arts  as 
well  as  in  baby  tending.  Professors  want  secretarial  assist¬ 
ance — stenography,  typewriting,  copying,  bibliographic  work, 
etc.  Dormitories,  student  eating  and  boarding  houses,  re¬ 
quire  extra  service.  Students  gladly  pay  for  mending,  dress¬ 
making,  pressing,  shampooing,  even  shoe  polishing.  Tutoring 
is  needed  at  all  seasons,  especially  before  and  after  examina¬ 
tions.  Local  pastors  desire  visitors  and  helpers.  Agencies 
for  various  magazines  or  feminine  novelties  are  often  ob¬ 
tainable,  etc. 

(b)  Restrooms  and  Lunches.  Every  Association  that  can 
have  a  room  of  its  own  for  the  use  of  students  is  fortunate. 
How  it  is  kept  is  determined  by  the  ideals  of  the  committee 
in  charge.  Are  these  ideals  socially  effective?  Neatness, 
attractiveness,  comfort,  means  much  even  to  the  passer-by. 
Well  selected  books  and  magazines  on  well  dusted  library 
tables  or  shelves  often  tempt  one  to  a  half-hour  or  so  of 
reading  which  otherwise  would  have  been  omitted  or  never 
thought  of.  On  the  days  when  special  events  are  taking 
place,  sandwiches,  chocolate,  or  lemonade,  according  to  the 
season,  can  be  provided  and  can  become  a  source  of  income 
as  well  as  serve  to  refresh  tired  people.  Sometimes  a  sys¬ 
tematic  food  supply  is  arranged  in  cafeteria  completeness 
and  becomes  a  part  of  the  campus  equipment. 

(c)  Training  Class  for  Discussion  Group  Leaders.  Many 
seniors  and  juniors  will  wish  to  lead  Voluntary  Study  groups 
of  under-classmen,  or  to  assist  regularly  in  Sunday  school 
work.  For  this  the  Social  Service  Committee  and  Bible  Study 
Committee  will  plan  in  cooperation.  Girls  should  teach 

12 


classes  of  girls  and  thereby  comply  with  the  suggestion  of  the 
International  Sunday  School  Association.  Sunday  school 
preparation  classes  are  most  valuable  even  for  the  girls  who 
cannot  do  this  work  while  under-graduates,  for  most  girls 
take  Sunday  school  classes  when  they  go  home,  and  greatly 
appreciate  this  training.  Many  girls  planning  to  attend 
summer  camps  as  “councillors”  or  to  lead  girls’  clubs,  will 
appreciate  a  short  series  of  discussions  on  club  leadership. 

(d)  Talks  on  Vocational  Opportunities.  Unless  otherwise 
provided  for  through  the  Women’s  League  or  undergraduate 
associations,  as  is  done  in  many  of  the  larger  colleges,  the 
Social  Service  Committee  should  arrange  for  a  series  of  in¬ 
formational  meetings  to  present  vocations  other  than  teach¬ 
ing.  If  this  is  arranged  for  by  the  Women’s  League  or  sim¬ 
ilar  organizations,  the  committee  will  wish  to  cooperate  heart¬ 
ily.  When  specially  qualified  speakers  are  not  available, 
many  subjects  can  be  given  by  faculty  members  who  are  in 
touch  with  various  interests.  Few  girls  realize  what  a 
variety  of  occupations  are  open  to  women  today,  both  paid 
and  volunteer.  There  is  no  longer  any  reason  why  a  college 
senior,  when  asked,  “What  are  you  going  to  do  next  year?” 
should  answer,  “Teaching,  of  course.”  For  further  informa¬ 
tion  concerning  opportunities  open  to  women  consult,  accord¬ 
ing  to  your  geographical  location,  with  the  directors  of  the 
following  bureaus: 

Intercollegiate  Bureau  of  Occupations,  130  East  22nd  Street,  New  York 
City.  (This  bureau  works  nationally  in  placing  social  workers  and  also 
has  a  volunteer  workers  department.) 

Women’s  Educational  and  Industrial  Union,  164  Boylston  Street,  Boston, 
Mass. 

Chicago  Collegiate  Bureau  of  Occupation,  16  North  Wabash  Avenue, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

Bureau  of  Occupation  for  Trained  Women,  1302  Spruce  Street,  Phila¬ 
delphia,  Pa. 

Virginia  Bureau  of  Vocations,  6  North  6th  Street,  Richmond,  Va. 

Collegiate  Vocational  Bureau  of  Pittsburgh,  505  Bessemer  Building, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

The  Association  of  Collegiate  Alumnae  through  its  various 
chapters  is  most  interested  in  aiding  college  women  to  find 

13 


appropriate  fields  for  volunteer  service.  Such  chapters 
would  doubtless  cover  for  this  purpose  most  of  the  sections  of 
the  country  not  covered  by  the  above  list.  Through  your  own 
alumnae  you  should  be  able  to  find  interested  and  interesting 
speakers  for  these  vocational  meetings.  The  Christian  Asso¬ 
ciation  should  cooperate  with  all  these  agencies  as  it  finds 
opportunity,  for  what  is  more  important  than  that  a  girl 
should  find  the  work  through  which  she  can  best  express  the 
best  which  is  in  her? 

(e)  Preparation  of  Baskets  and  Boxes.  The  spontaneous 
generosity  which  responds  to  definite  needs  shows  itself  espe¬ 
cially  at  festival  seasons,  such  as  Thanksgiving  Day,  Christ¬ 
mas  and  Easter.  Such  gifts  gauge  our  understanding  of  ap¬ 
propriate  and  thoughtful  giving.  Hundreds  of  baskets  of 
food,  clothing,  books  or  toys  are  prepared  and  sent  annually 
by  Association  girls  to  distant  as  well  as  nearby  places.  “Doll 
shows”  appear  upon  the  programs  of  many  Associations  and 
boxes  of  home-made  jellies  and  canned  fruits  or  vegetables 
add  cheer  to  the  girls’  ward  in  some  hospitals.  Books,  maga¬ 
zines  and  periodicals  are  collected  by  some  Associations  and 
sent  into  the  Southern  mountain  districts  where  reading  ma¬ 
terial  can  seldom  be  bought.  Let  care  be  taken  that  only  that 
Avhich  portrays  life  as  it  is,  or  ought  to  be,  is  circulated,  for 
standards  are  affected  wherever  our  influence  reaches.  Again 
destitution  and  suffering  caused  by  special  crises,  such  as  fire, 
floods  and  war,  should  be  considered  promptly;  and  even  at 
sacrifice,  time,  money  and  energy  should  be  spent  in  securing 
adequate  response  to  such  immediate  need.  Training  in  Red 
Cross  work*  is  always  important,  for  its  efficient  methods  are 
needed  in  normal  times  as  well  as  in  times  of  disaster. 

Off  Campus  Work 

(a)  When  we  leave  the  campus  attention  is  first  turned  to 
church  and  Sunday  school  work.  Why  should  this  be  so?  Op¬ 
portunities  are  open,  through  participation  in  the  work  of  the 

*  American  Red  Cross,  1624  H  Street  N.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

14 


Young  Peoples’  Societies,  for  thoughtful  students  to  add  much 
of  interest  to  the  meetings  held  by  such  societies  by  helping 
to  make  them  all  that  they  ought  to  be  and  by  introducing 
topics  which  will  help  to  relate  faith  and  works.  Sunday 
school  classes  and  church  clubs  are  generally  looking  for  lead¬ 
ers,  and  to  do  really  good  Sunday  school  work  requires  prep¬ 
aration  and  regularity  of  attendance.  Faithfulness  may  be 
lived  out  in  this  work  especially. 

( b )  In  large  cities  opportunities  to  do  settlement  or  Chris¬ 
tian  Association  club  work  are  looked  upon  as  of  special  value 
and  generally  taken  advantage  of  by  students.  All  kinds  of 
“friendly  visiting”  and  relief  work  can  be  planned  for,  and 
“shut-ins”  gladly  welcome  an  hour  or  so  of  reading  aloud. 
Interest  and  work  should  be  developed  in  the  existing  philan¬ 
thropic  institutions,  such  as  hospitals,  old  ladies’  homes,  and 
day  nurseries,  thus  relating  modern  scientific  methods  to  the 
long  established  institutions  founded  by  Christian  generosity. 

(c)  Community  betterment  should  constantly  be  borne  in 
mind  and  sentiment  stirred  against  the  patronage  of  such 
places  of  amusement  and  entertainment  as  are  detrimental  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  Never  let  it  be  said  that  such 
places  are  kept  open  through  the  support  of  students.  In  no 
way  can  Christian  students  render  a  more  effective  social  in¬ 
fluence  than  by  definitely  forcing  the  closing  of  undesirable 
places  by  lack  of  patronage. 

(d)  In  some  towns  the  relationship  between  the  college 
and  the  high  school  is  such  that  the  school  girls  look  to  the 
college  girls  for  help  and  leadership  in  their  activities.  Where 
high  school  students’  clubs  are  formed  as  branches  of  the 
Young  Women’s  Christian  Association,  the  college  student 
Association  may  serve  as  the  Association  through  which  the 
high  school  club  maintains  its  affiliation  with  the  National 
Student  Movement.  In  such  cases  the  Social  Service  Commit¬ 
tee  should  appoint  a  high  school  committee  consisting  of  some 
college  girls  and  also  some  town  women  who  can  act  in  the 
capacity  of  “permanent  membership”  for  the  student  club. 

15 


Details  as  to  organization  and  programs  of  meetings  can  be 
secured  in  printed  form*  and  should  be  followed  carefully,  if 
the  high  school  girls  are  to  receive  the  greatest  benefit. 

During  Vacation 

(a)  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  Eight  Week 
Clubs,  t  What  an  opportunity  for  a  college  girl  to  share  with 
her  girl  neighbors!  These  clubs,  and  their  counterpart  for 
immigrant  girls,  called  International  Friendship  Clubs,  should 
be  adequately  prepared  for,  indeed,  attendance  upon  a  spring 
preparation  class  is  a  prerequisite  for  application  for  appoint¬ 
ment  as  a  leader.  Because  of  the  importance  of  this  work 
and  its  systematic  promotion,  a  faculty  adviser  should  be 
appointed,  in  consultation  with  the  cabinet  of  the  Association, 
who  shall  help  direct  the  work  and  give  to  it  a  permanence 
which  the  constantly  changing  student  body  finds  hard  to 
maintain.  “The  help  of  such  a  faculty  adviser  is  needed  in 
arranging  for  the  rally,  supervising  the  preparation  class 
(which  she  may  teach)  and  in  following  up  the  leaders  dur¬ 
ing  the  summer  through  correspondence.”  This  faculty  ad¬ 
viser  should  be  some  one  deeply  interested  in  the  country  life 
movement.  The  preparation  class  is  a  regular  part  of  the 
Voluntary  Study  program  and  therefore  not  limited  to  pros¬ 
pective  club  leaders;  anyone  interested  in  country  life  may  be 
included.  “College  Movement  and  Country  Leadership, by 
Jessie  Field,  is  used  as  the  text.  At  the  close  of  the  prepara¬ 
tion  class,  the  cabinet  and  the  faculty  adviser  make  the  final 
selection  of  leaders,  and  through  the  field  office,  apply  for 
their  appointments.  The  appointments  having  been  received, 
the  committee  arranges  for  the  commission  service,  which  is 
given  as  a  regular  Association  meeting.  In  the  autumn  upon 


*  See  leaflets,  “Secondary  School  Girl  Work”  and  “Committee  Work 
and  Programs  for  Secondary  School  Work.”  10  cents  each. 

t  See  leaflet,  “How  to  Promote  Eight  Week  Clubs,”  “For  Leaders  of 
Eight  Week  Clubs,”  and  “For  Leaders  of  International  Friendship  Clubs.” 
10  cents  each, 
t  Cost,  25  cents. 


16 


the  completion  of  successful  work  certificates  will  be  issued 
by  the  National  Board  to  the  individual  leaders.  Any  Asso¬ 
ciation  having  ten  or  more  successful  Eight  Week  Clubs  in 
any  one  summer  will  receive  an  Association  certificate. 

(6)  Camps  for  girls  are  carried  on  by  many  organiza¬ 
tions,  such  as  Fresh  Air  Fund  Societies,  settlements,  local 
Christian  Associations  and  churches,  as  well  as  by  innumer¬ 
able  individuals.  Both  volunteer  work  and  paid  service  is 
offered  in  these,  and  they  provide  ample  opportunity  for  one 
to  test  her  ability  to  lead  girls  and  to  work  with  other  people. 
Applications  for  all  such  work  should  be  sent  directly  to  those 
in  charge  of  the  camps,  for  arrangements  of  this  kind  are 
usually  made  personally. 

(c)  Public  Play  Ground  Work  exists  in  many  cities.  The 
work  is  still  seasonal  in  character  and  therefore  affords  good 
opportunity  for  summer  work  and  experience.  For  informa¬ 
tion  concerning  hours  of  attendance,  subjects  to  be  taught, 
activities  to  be  directed  and  remuneration  offered,  correspon¬ 
dence  should  be  taken  up  with  the  Director  of  the  Play  Ground 
and  Recreation  Association  of  America,  1  Madison  Avenue, 
New  York  City. 

( d )  Daily  Vacation  Bible  Schools  are  carried  on  in  cities 
scattered  over  the  entire  United  States,  and  offer  an  excel¬ 
lent  chance  for  six  weeks’  work  if  one  happens  to  live  in  a 
city  where  they  are  conducted.  The  remuneration  offered  is 
not  usually  sufficient  to  tempt  one  if  board  and  living  have  to 
be  paid  out  of  it.  Bible,  kindergarten,  music  and  occupation  , 
work  are  among  the  subjects  taught.  Seventy-three  thousand 
children  attended  these  schools  last  year,  and  as  the  announce¬ 
ments  state,  “Idle  children,  idle  students  and  idle  churches 
were  all  occupied.”  For  further  information  communication 
should  be  addressed  to  the  Daily  Vacation  Bible  School  Asso¬ 
ciation,  90  Bible  House,  New  York  City. 

(e)  Many  girls  when  at  home  throw  their  enthusiasm  into 
Sunday  school  and  church  work,  taking  a  class,  singing  in  the 
choir  and  in  some  instances  even  planning  or  leading  meet- 

17 


ings  in  a  school  house  or  pastorless  church.  One  college  girl 
has  done  so  well  in  this  that  three  different  communities  are 
clamoring  for  her  services  next  vacation.  Opportunities  for 
some  kind  of  work  exist  everywhere.  All  that  is  needed  to 
find  them  is  a  sympathetic  mind  and  heart. 

Social  Service  After  Graduation 

No  girl  should  allow  herself  to  drift,  the  first  year  out  of 
college.  If  at  home  the  sooner  she  gets  back  into  family, 
church  and  community  life  the  better  and  happier  for  her  as 
well  as  for  her  family  and  friends,  and  even  for  her  work  if 
she  is  employed.  If  located  in  a  new  town,  as  a  “married 
lady,”  a  teacher,  or  in  a  business  position,  she  should  even 
more  emphatically  relate  herself  to  some  form  of  service.  These 
first  years  out  of  college  generally  determine  whether  we  are 
to  live  selfishly  or  whether  we  are  to  take  a  conscious  part  in 
bringing  in  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

Various  methods  have  been  tried  to  make  the  transition  time 
easier.  The  Alumnae  Record,  taken  of  each  senior  class,  is 
one  method  primarily  intended  to  help  each  girl  find  the  kind 
of  service  she  desires  and  to  help  organizations  to  find  the 
girl.  Most  girls,  when  handed  the  Record,  think  only  of  the 
first  part  of  the  equation,  and  in  consequence,  if  they  already 
know  what  they  desire  to  do,  fail  to  hand  in  the  blanks.  Ab¬ 
solutely  free  choice  as  to  the  form  of  service  is  given  to  every 
senior.  The  fact  that  the  National  Board  of  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Associations  takes  this  record  for  all 
church  and  social  agencies,  does  not  in  any  way  involve  any 
individual  girl  with  the  Association  unless  she  so  chooses. 
The  record  is  taken  for  volunteer  service  in  city,  town  or 
country,  through  churches,  missionary  societies,  social  organ¬ 
izations  and  clubs.  The  report  blanks  are  classified  and  for¬ 
warded  to  the  several  agencies  named  by  the  students  and 
the  representatives  of  the  several  forms  of  work  communicate 
with  the  girl  directly.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  many  organ¬ 
izations  can  be  served  by  only  one  appeal  on  the  campus.  No 

18 


local  student  secretary  has  really  fulfilled  her  year’s  work  if 
she  fails  to  plan  for  some  definite  opportunity  for  service  for 
every  Association  girl.  Where  there  is  no  local  secretary  the 
responsibility  generally  falls  upon  the  Social  Service  Com¬ 
mittee.  When  senior  classes  fail  to  sign  and  hand  in  the  rec¬ 
ord  blanks  they  do  not  realize  that  the  extent  of  the  social 
interest  of  their  particular  college  and  class  is  measured 
thereby.  How  could  we  better  co-operate,  not  only  with  one 
another,  but  with  the  various  organized  efforts  for  human 
betterment,  than  by  individually  and  collectively  bringing  the 
college  girl  to  realize  her  obligations  and  opportunities.  It 
is  a  splendid  thing  to  have  every  outgoing  college  girl  con¬ 
scious  that  there  is  some  work  in  the  world  awaiting  her  spe¬ 
cial  gifts  and  that  her  social  conscience  has  been  called  into 
action. 

The  section  dealing  with  vocational  opportunities  has 
pointed  out  the  way  to  get  in  touch  with  the  various  occupa¬ 
tion  bureaus  in  case,  after  graduation,  a  girl  wishes  to  enter 
some  form  of  social  activity  as  a  profession.  Correspondence 
will  be  welcomed  by  all  of  these  bureaus;  they  are  eager  for 
the  college  girls’  support  and  interest,  for  their  governing 
committees  are  interested  in  the  discovery  of  suitable  work 
for  women  as  well  as  in  locating  them  in  the  positions  where 
they  can  make  the  best  contribution  to  their  day  and  genera¬ 
tion. 

Thus  in  many  ways,  which  might  still  be  multiplied  and 
doubtless  will  be  multiplied  by  wide-awake  Social  Service 
Committees,  an  increasing  desire  for  knowledge  of  the  actual 
conditions  of  those  among  whom  we  live  will  be  stirred,  and 
Christian  love  will  relate  itself  in  a  service  as  widespread  and 
as  human  as  our  Master  calls  upon  his  followers  to  render. 


19 


' 


\ 


I 


STUDENT  LEAFLETS 
For  Universities  and  Large  Colleges 

Advisory  Committee.  Bertha  Conde.  10  cents. 
Association  Membership  and  Church  Work.  Bertha  Conde. 
10  cents. 

Association  Meetings.  Oolooah  Burner.  10  cents. 
Association  News  Committee.  Edith  Dabb.  5  cents. 

Bible  Study  Committee  and  the  Voluntary  Study  Plan. 
Ethel  Cutler.  10  cents. 

Cabinet,  The.  Bertha  Conde.  5  cents. 

Christian  Living  in  Terms  of  Service  (for  the  Social  Serv- 
ive  Committee).  Eliza  R.  Butler.  10  cents. 

Conferences  and  Conventions  Committee.  Louise  Brooks. 
5  cents. 

Finance  Committee.  Blanche  Geary.  5  cents. 

How  to  Promote  Eight  Week  Clubs.  Mabel  Stone.  5  cents. 
Howr  to  Realize  Our  National  Association  Membership. 
Eliza  R.  Butler.  10  cents. 

World  Fellowship  (for  the  Missionary  Committee).  Mar¬ 
garet  Burton.  10  cents. 

For  Colleges,  Seminaries  and  Academies 

The  first  six  leaflets  listed  above,  and  “Conferences  and 
Convention  Committee,”  and  the  last  three  leaflets  listed 
above.  In  addition: 

Committee  Work  in  Small  Associations.  Eleanor  Richard¬ 
son.  5  cents. 

Finance  Committee  in  a  School  or  College  Association. 
Edith  Helmer.  10  cents. 

Social  Service  Committee.  Eliza  R.  Butler.  5  cents. 

Year’s  Outline  for  Religious  Meetings.  Oolooah  Burner. 
10  cents. 

Watch  The  Association  Monthly  for  announcement  of  addi¬ 
tional  leaflets  during  1916-17. 

Order  from 

Publication  Department 

National  Board  of  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations 
600  LEXINGTON  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 


PALMER  &  OLIVER,  NEW  YORK 


